Effect of zoledronic acid therapy on postmenopausal osteoporosis between the Uighur and Han population in Xinjiang: An open-label, long-term safety and efficacy study.

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Postmenopausal osteoporosis is becoming an urgent health problem in China. A once-yearly infusion of zoledronic acid can be very effective for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in significantly reducing the risk of hip, vertebral and other fractures. This study aimed to investigate zoledronic acid treatment on postmenopausal osteoporosis in Uighur and Han patients in Xinjiang province, China. A self-controlled and prospective trial design was adopted. A total of 155 Uighur and 151 Han patients were enrolled. All subjects received an intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid (5mg) at day 0 (baseline) and at 12months. Patients were followed up for 24months; the bone mineral density (BMD) of the left total hip and L1-L4 vertebrae was measured at day 0 and at 24months. BMD was significantly higher after zoledronic acid treatment compared with baseline levels in all patients, as assessed at 24months. Moreover, the BMD of left total hip increased with 2.7% in the Han group was significantly higher than that of the Uighur group with 1.4% (left total hip, 95% CI: 2.6% to 2.8% in Han group vs 1.2% to 1.4% in Uighur group). The BMD of L1-L4 vertebrae increased with 2.2% in the Han group was significantly higher than that of the Uighur group with 1.6% (L1-L4 vertebrae, 95% CI, 2.0% to 2.4% in Han group vs 1.4% to 1.7% in Uighur group); P<.001. There was no significant difference in drug-related adverse effects between the two groups (P>.05). Zoledronic acid appears to be more effective in postmenopausal osteoporosis in Han than in Uighur subjects. The reasons for this require further investigation.